Rebound Therapy (Rebound #1)

by Jerica MacMillan

I realize that I’ve actually been enjoying his company. I let out the breath I didn’t notice I’d been holding waiting for his response. “No, I don’t want you to leave,” I say and realize it’s true.

  He flashes that grin again, all straight teeth and twinkling eyes. “Good.” He sits forward in his seat again and we continue chatting.

  After a while I look around, realizing I haven’t seen Amy in close to half an hour. “Where did Amy go?” I say aloud.

  Brian starts to look around, too. “I don’t know. She left to get a refill a while ago.”

  “I know. I thought she’d be back by now.” I stand up and finally see her at the bar.

  Brian stands as well and moves next to me. “There she is,” he says, spotting her at the same time I do.

  “Before you go retrieve her, can I ask what you’re doing next Friday?”

  I look at him in mild surprise. I don’t know why, but I really didn’t expect him to ask me out, especially after my dead fiancé revelation. “Working and then eating dinner on the couch with Netflix, probably.”

  “As appealing as that sounds, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me.”

  He sees me hesitate a little.

  “Since the reason for coming here was to find a guy, you’ll avoid getting dragged somewhere else by Amy if you say yes.”

  I smile at him. He has a good point. “Okay, sure.”

  He hands me his phone and has me program my number in, then sends me a text. “Now you have my number, too,” he says. “I’ll be in touch this week so we can work out the details.”

  He leans in and gives me a light kiss on the cheek, then grins at me again before walking away.

  Holy crap, I have a date next weekend.

  I go join Amy at the bar.

  “What happened to Brian?” she asks.

  “I was wondering where you got to, so he left me to come sit with you.”

  Amy sighs and shoots me a look. “You scared him off, didn’t you.”

  “No, not at all. He asked me out next Friday.”

  “And I’m sure you shot him down. Really, Jenna, you have to at least try –“

  “I said yes,” I say over the beginnings of her lecture.

  Amy stops short and stares at me. “You said yes?”

  “I said yes.”

  “I’m shocked.”

  “I can see that. But he’s cute, and he made a persuasive argument.”

  “Which was?”

  “If I said no you’d drag me out somewhere else next Friday.”

  She lets out a short laugh. “He’s right, you know.”

  “Yeah, I do. That’s why I said yes.”

  “Alright. Mission accomplished, then.” She sets her wine glass on the counter. “Bye, Adam,” she calls to the bartender and we head back out to her car.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The next week goes by quickly.

  It’s Friday again and I’m once more stepping out of the shower to get ready to go out. This time with Brian. Amy has invited herself over to help me get ready.

  I walk into my room with my towel wrapped around me and see the outfit Amy has picked lying on the bed.

  “No,” I say.

  “What? Why not? It’s a great dress!”

  “I know. It is. I wore that dress when Tom proposed. I bought it special for that night because I knew he had a romantic evening planned. I haven’t worn it since he died. I can’t wear it tonight.”

  The look of protest on Amy’s face softens. “Okay.” She doesn’t say anything else about the dress she had picked out, just quietly puts it away and picks something else. She knows what talking about Tom does to me. Sometimes she’ll talk more, but tonight I have a date. A date she wants to go well.

  She turns back around with another choice. It’s a black knee length tank dress of knit fabric with ruching on one side. The different times I went out with Tom wearing that dress flash through my mind, but I don’t mention it. Every date worthy piece of clothing I own has memories attached to it. Unless I want to go in my work clothes or sweats, there’s no point in saying anything. Going naked on a first date is probably too forward. The thought makes me smirk a little to myself.

  “That’ll work,” I say. “Now get out so I can get dressed.”

  While I’m finishing up my makeup and hair, the doorbell rings.

  “He’s here!” calls Amy from the living room.

  “I’m coming! Don’t answer the door, Amy!” I call back as I walk out of the bathroom.

  Brian grins at me as I open the door. He uses that grin like a weapon to disarm me. I was starting to feel nervous, but one look at him puts me at ease like I was in the wine bar.

  “I see we have a chaperone,” he says looking past me at Amy curled on the couch.

  “Ignore her. She insisted on dressing me. Apparently I can’t do it myself.”

  “Not to my standards, anyway,” she says as she heads for the door with her keys in her hand. “You two kids have fun.” She gives me a quick hug, looks Brian up and down as he steps through the door to move out of her way, and then she’s gone.

  I can’t blame her for checking him out. His navy blue jacket and white button down shirt accentuate his broad shoulders. He has the top two buttons of his shirt undone, and dark wash jeans that keep his look casual, but put together. His short blonde hair is styled in an intentionally messy look, inviting fingers to run through it. And his blue eyes are checking me out as much as I’m checking him out.

  “Let me grab my bag and we can go,” I say, leaving the door open while I gather my things.

  Brian takes me to a nice restaurant not far from his wine bar. He’s made us a reservation and we get in right away.

  “I hope you don’t mind skipping pre-dinner cocktails,” he says as we sit down. “I’m planning on getting some good wine to go with our food, and I didn’t think either of us needed to get sloshed on the first date.”

  I smile a bit at his words. “I’m good with not getting sloshed.”

  I look around at the restaurant, taking in the elegant décor and dim lighting. It’s a romantic choice. Perfect for trying to impress on a first date. “I’ve never been here before, have you?”

  “Yes,” he says. “I actually know Linda, the owner. We use the same supplier for our wine. I introduced them.”

  “Oh, so you bring all your dates here.”

  He chuckles a bit at that. “Not exactly. I haven’t been on a date in a while.”

  “Yeah, me either.”

  Conversation with Brian is easy and light. We covered most of the usual get to know you stuff when we met last week, so tonight we talk about other things—family, books, movies, things like that.

  It turns out he’s never seen The Princess Bride.

  “What? That movie’s a classic! How can you not have seen it?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. I just never did.”

  “I’m not sure we can be friends now. How will you understand my random movie references?”

  “Maybe we can watch it together. That way you can fill me in on what I’ve been missing my whole life.”

  I sigh as though I’m terribly put out by this suggestion. “Fine. I guess we can do that. If you insist.”

  He smiles. “I’m afraid I must insist.”

  The date is going well. Amy texts me partway through the evening to make sure I don’t need rescuing. I excuse myself to the ladies’ room when I feel my phone buzz and text her back assuring her things are going fine.

  “I expect a full report tomorrow!” she says. I just send her back a smiley with its tongue sticking out.

  When I get back, Brian’s ordered dessert for us and a wine to match. He’s paired wines with both the appetizer and entrée as well. I’m not a big wine drinker, but I have to admit that his choices go well with everything we’ve ordered. He’s gotten a flourless chocolate torte and ordered a chocolate cheesecake for me.

  “I hope it’s okay I ordered dessert for you.
This wine goes great with rich dark chocolate. If you’d prefer the torte we can trade.”

  “No, this is fine.”

  “I figured chocolate dessert would be a safe bet.”

  “Are you calling me a stereotypical woman?”

  “Well, I don’t know many people, male or female, who don’t like chocolate.”

  “True. And you weren’t wrong. I love chocolate.”

  After we finish dessert, Brian takes me home. He walks me to my door holding my hand, only letting go so I can fish for my keys in my purse. I finally find them and pull them out. I can feel his gaze on me as I get out the key to my apartment. I have the sudden urge to start babbling and my hands are trembling slightly.

  He brushes a strand of hair away from my face, then gently tips my chin up so I’m looking him in the eye. He’s only a few inches taller than me. He looks at me for a moment, then leans in, hesitating slightly with our mouths inches apart. He gives me time to turn my head or protest before he softly touches his lips to mine.

  The kiss is soft, tender. And brief.

  I open my eyes as he pulls away. He smiles at me, still looking at my mouth. “I’ll call you this week. We can schedule a showing of The Princess Bride.”

  “Okay.” I fit my key in the lock and turn it.

  “Good night, Jenna. I had a nice time.”

  “Me too.”

  I step through the door and turn to say goodbye. He steals another short kiss, then turns and leaves without another word.

  *

  “Spill,” says Amy when she picks up the phone the next day.

  “Hello, to you, too. I’m doing well, how was your day?”

  “Blah, blah, I’m fine, day was fine, enough social niceties for you?”

  “I guess.”

  “Okay. Then, spill.”

  “We went out to dinner. It was nice.”

  “Nice? That’s all you’re going to give me?”

  “We talked, he brought me home, he was the perfect gentleman.”

  “Gentleman, huh? Too bad. I was hoping for a bad boy for your rebound. Maybe the next one.”

  “Next one? I’m moving on already?”

  “Wait. Are you going out again?”

  “He said he’d call me this week. We’re supposed to get together to watch The Princess Bride. He’s never seen it.”

  “What? Has he been living under a rock his whole life?”

  “I guess. Anyway, he said I should show it to him to rectify this horrible situation.”

  “I don’t know, Jen. Maybe you should move on. Never seen The Princess Bride? Perfect gentleman? It’s not looking too promising.”

  “Not too promising for what? The guy doesn’t deserve a second date? You’re the one who’s been pushing this. I thought you’d be happy I’m going to see him again.”

  “Well, the point was to have a rebound, not a relationship.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You know what they say—the best way to get over someone is to get under someone new.”

  “Amy, that’s disgusting.”

  “I just call it like I see it. Besides, the point was to get you unstuck, not stick you into a new relationship right away.”

  “Brian’s nice, Amy. I like him. I feel comfortable with him.”

  “That’s what I mean, Jenna. I wanted you to go out and get laid. Snap you out of your funk. Not find you a new guy friend. Did he at least hold your hand or something?”

  “Yeah. He kissed me. Twice.”

  “Twice? Well, maybe this guy has some promise after all. How was it?”

  “It was nice.”

  “Just nice? That’s all? Open mouth or closed?”

  I sigh. “You’re really going to drag all the gory details out of me? Yes, just nice. Closed mouth. On the lips both times. Longer than a peck, nicer than a peck for sure. But not overly long.”

  It’s Amy’s turn to sigh at me. “Well, at least it wasn’t a peck. And twice is a good sign. That means he liked the first time well enough. I wonder why he’s moving so slow, though?”

  “Probably because he’s not a douche just out to get in my pants,” I say dryly.

  “Maybe. I guess it was just a first date. You don’t want him to think you’re easy or anything. But I was hoping you’d have at least invited him in and gotten more than a ‘nice’ kiss.”

  “Like what?”

  “Oh, you know—a hot kiss, maybe some heavy petting.”

  “You’re impossible.”

  “I know. It’s part of my charm. Keep me posted.”

  “Like you’d let me do otherwise.”

  *

  On Tuesday Brian calls me.

  “I know we were going to watch The Princess Bride this week, but I was hoping I could get a rain check on that. There’s a midnight showing Saturday night of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the indie theater downtown. A bunch of my friends are going. What do you say—are you up for it?”

  “I’ve never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. “

  “What? You were hassling me about The Princess Bride and you haven’t seen Rocky Horror? That settles it. You have to come.”

  “Okay. I’ll come.”

  “Great. I’ll come over early to help you get in costume, and then we can grab a bite to eat before the movie.”

  “Costume?”

  “Yeah. Everyone dresses up as characters from the movie. It’s loads of fun. You’ll love it.”

  “I’ve never seen the movie, Brian. How am I supposed to know what to wear as a costume?”

  “That’s why I’m coming over to help you. Don’t worry. I won’t make you dress too crazy. I’ll meet you at your place at nine thirty. Is that okay?”

  “How long will it take to get in costume. I don’t live that far from downtown.”

  He laughs. “Don’t worry. It won’t be really elaborate. But that’ll give us plenty of time to get food after we’re ready to go.”

  “You’re planning on going out in costume? It’s not even close to Halloween. People will think we’re crazy.”

  “That or they’ll think we’re going to see Rocky Horror. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll bring a pizza.”

  “Yeah, let’s do pizza. It’ll be bad enough going to a theater in costume.”

  Brian laughs again. “Okay, pizza it is. I’ll see you at nine thirty on Saturday.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Brian arrives on Saturday right on time, pizza in hand.

  “Hey,” he says when I open the door.

  “Hi. Come on in.”

  I take the pizza and set it on the kitchen table, then move to the cabinets to get plates. When I turn around, Brian’s right there. He takes the plates out of my hands, sets them on the counter, then leans in and kisses me. This one lingers more than his kisses goodnight after our last date. Still sweet, but with a promise of something more.

  He pulls back and flashes me a grin. “You ran away with the pizza before I could say a proper hello.”

  “Hi,” I say again. His smile grows bigger. Apparently he gets a kick out of flustering me.

  I retrieve the plates from the counter and take them to the table. “There are drinks in the fridge,” I call over my shoulder. “Help yourself.”

  “Sure,” he says, opening the fridge. “What do you want?”

  “Grab me a soda. I think I need the caffeine tonight.”

  “I promise you won’t be bored.” There’s a glint of mischief in his eyes.

  “I’m not sure if that’s reassuring or not.”

  He just laughs. I spot a shopping bag on the table next to the pizza. “Is that my costume?” I’m trying to keep the nerves out of my voice, but I can tell he notices. He just keeps smiling.

  “Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. You won’t even feel that dressed up, I promise.”

  I pull the bag over while Brian helps himself to some pizza. It’s from Mangiamo’s, the gourmet pizza place across the street from The Barrel Room, Brian’s wi
ne bar. It looks and smells delicious.

  I look inside the bag and see nothing but white. I pull it out and realize it’s a white, knee-length dress. There’s also a white cardigan. He’s right. This isn’t much of a costume. It just seems like normal clothes, if not my usual style. That’s all that’s in the bag.

  “Is your costume in the car?” I ask.

  “Nope, this is it. I have a few props in the car, but I’m already dressed.”

  I look him over in gray slacks and a normal looking shirt. He’s already taken off the tan windbreaker he was wearing when he came in. He reaches over to his jacket and pulls out a pair of black hipster-like glasses and puts them on. “The lenses are just glass,” he says, tapping one with a finger. “What do you think?”

  “When you said we’d be going in costume, I guess I expected something a little more … interesting.”

  Brian laughs again. He has a great laugh. “Well, I figured I’d go easy on you since it’s your first time. Virgins aren’t expected to dress up, but it’s more fun if you do.”

  I quirk an eyebrow at that last bit. “Virgins?”

  “You know. People who haven’t experienced Rocky Horror before. Since you’ve never even seen the movie, it’ll be a whole new experience. Believe me, there will be people in far more ‘interesting’ costumes there. But we’re going as Brad and Janet. I thought you’d be more comfortable in that outfit than some of the other options, especially since you don’t know anything about the characters.”

  “That was crazy,” I say as Brian drives me home at two in the morning.

  Brian looks over at me and flashes me a grin. “Did you have fun, though?”

  I grin right back at him. “I did. That was fun.”

  Now, in his car, I’m still picking rice out of my hair and hidden folds in my dress.

  “I’ve never been to a movie with so much audience participation. Throwing toast and rice and everything. How many times have you gone to one of these?”

  “Once or twice,” he says. “I think it’s fun, but I’m not as into it as some people are.”

  “Who do you usually dress up as?”

  He laughs at that. “Why? Are you imagining me in a corset or tiny gold shorts?”